Tire-tightener.



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TIRE TIGHTENER.

(Application filed July 15. 1899.)

(No Model.)

' UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE@ HENRY TAYLOR KAY, OF TOPEKA, KANSAS, ASSIGN OR OF ONE-HALF TO DAVID O. CRANE, OF SAME PLACE.

TI'RE-TIGHTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 636,204, dated October 31, 1899.

Application led July 15, 1899.y Serial No. 723,977. (No model.)

T0 all whom it may concern:

- "Be it known that I, HENRY TAYLOR KAY,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Topeka, in the county of Shawnee and State of Kansas, have inventedanew and useful Tire- Tightener, of which the following is a specication.

The invention relates to improvements in tire-tighteners.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of tire-tighteners and to provide a simple, inexpensive, and.ef cient device adapted tobe readily arranged for operating on the front and rear wheels of a vehicle for forcing the felly outward to expand the same against the tire and capable of spreading the felly-sections to enable a washer or plate to be readily introduced between the same to retain the felly in its expanded condition.L

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a tire-tightener constructed in accordance with this invention and shown applied to a wheel. Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the tire-tightener. -Fig. 3 is aside elevation showing the tire-tightener arranged for expanding or spreading the telly-sections.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding partsin all the iigures of the drawings.

l designates a tire-tightener comprising an inner section or bar 2, an outer section or block 3, and an intermediate section or block 4, which is connected by screws 5 and 6 with the adjacent ends of the sections or members 2 and 3, and the said screws are adapted to be adjusted to vary1 the length of the device.

The,bar or section 2 is provided at its inner end with an ear or lug 7, arranged at right angles to the same and provided with a threaded perforation for the reception of the adjacent portion of the adjusting-screw 5, which has right and left hand threads, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings, whereby when the screw is rotated the adjacent sections or members will be simultaneously moved in opposite directions to separate them or draw them together.

The adj usting-screw 5 is provided with a central polygonal portion 8, forming a wrenchseat and adapted to be engaged by an ordinary wrench.

The central or intermediate block or section 4 is provided at its ends with lugs or ears 9 and l0, extending outward at right angles to the body portioni of the block or section 4, arranged parallel with each other and having threaded perforations or openings for the reception of the adjacent portions of the adjusting-screws.

The outer section or member, which :is substantially L-shaped, similar to the section or member 2, is provided at its inner end with a lug or ear l1, having a threaded opening for the outer portion of the adjusting-screw 6, which has right and left hand threaded portions similar to the adj Listing-screw 5, and which is provided with a central polygonal portion forming a seat.

The bar or section 2 is adapted to bearranged against the hub of a wheel12, as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings, and the outer block or section 3 is fitted against the rimor felly and is adapted to expand the same, and a washer or ring may be interposed between the shoulder of the spoke and the felly, as will be readily understood. The three sections or members are employed when the device is arranged as shown in Fig. l, for operating on one of the hind wheels of a vehicle; but when it is necessary to tighten the tire of the front wheel, which is of less diameter than the hind wheel, the sections 2 and 4 of the device are employed, the block or section 3 and thev screw 6 being removed to shorten the device and adapt it for small wheels.

The sections or members 3 and 4 may be separated from the bar or section 2 and are adapted to be arranged as illustrated in Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings for spreading the telly-sections to enable washers or plates to be interposed between the same'for retaining the telly-sections in their expanded condition. The sections or members 3 and 4 when employed for spreading the telly-sections are interposed between the adjacent IOO spokes and are arranged in the angles formed by the same and the telly-sections. The screw may then be adjusted to spread the telly-seotions to the desired extent.

It will be seen that the tire-tightener is exceedingly simple and inexpensive in construction, that it is strong and durable, and that it may be readily adjusted and arranged for operatin g on the front and rear wheels of a vehicle to expand the felly and to spread the sections of the same. It will also be apparent that the sections are removable, so that two or more of them may be operated together, and that when the outer section is detached the device is adapted for front wheels and that when the inner section is removed the device maybe arranged between the spokes.

Changes in the form, proportion, size, and the minor details of construction within the scope of the appended claims may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any ofthe advantages of this invention.

IVhat is claimed is- 1. A tire-tightener comprising an inner section or bar provided with a lug extending outward at right angles, an outer section or block provided at its inner end with a lug arranged parallel with the said lug, an intermediate block or section provided at its ends with parallel lugs interposed between the said lugs, and adjusting-screws engaging the lugs and detachably connecting the sections, substantially as described.

2. A tire-tightener comprising a substantially L-shaped section or member having a threaded opening in one of its arms, a section ormemberhavingabodyportion and provided with a pair of parallel lugs having threaded openings and arranged parallel with thefarm having the threaded opening, and a screw connecting the sections or members and engaging the adjacent threaded openings, substantially as described.

3. A tiretightener comprising the inner, outer and intermediate sections provided at their adjacent ends with threaded openings, and the adjusting-screws connecting the sections and detacli'ably engaging the threaded openings, whereby either the inner or outer section and the screw for adjusting the same may be removed, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HENRY TAYLOR KAY.

Witnesses:

F. S. CRANE,- E. F. MITCHELL. 

